Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Nutrition Program Update

Every year at this time I somehow expect nutrition programming to slow down and I’m always a little
surprised when just the opposite occurs. This year is no different.

If you haven’t heard, we were fortunate to hire Sally Daniels as our full-time nutrition program educator for the Eat Smart New York (ESNY) program in January. With 19 years experience working with the Equal Opportunity Program, Sally brings a wealth of knowledge, skills and community connections to this position. Sally is currently conducting ESNY classes with participants of the ARC, Rainbow Chasers, and a group of consumers from the community. She is exploring interest in ESNY classes in Cayuta.

A figure who may be familiar, Danielle Bannister, is temporarily re-joining our staff this summer to help with Cooking Matters classes. Formerly known as Operation Frontline, Cooking Matters is a program of the national organization, Share Our Strength (S0S). Cooking Matters targets the same audience as ESNY families and individuals with modest incomes, and covers similar subject matter, but includes additional features. Cooking Matters is co-facilitated by a volunteer chef as well as a nutrition educator. Participants prepare a meal in class and then go home with a bag of groceries to try the featured recipe at home. Small incentives such as measuring cups and spoons, cutting boards, instant read thermometers and cloth shopping bags are provided. At the end of the six week session, each participant takes home a glossy manual developed by SOS with the nutrition information and recipes that were shared in class. Cooking Matters classes are offered free of charge.

We’re excited to collaborate with the Finger Lakes Parent Network (FLPN) to kick off the first Cooking Matters series of the year. This series began Friday, June 29 at the Human Services Complex Building. Local chef, Mary Ann Coombs, co-facilitated with Danielle Bannister. Ten adults and five youth were expected to attend.

A second Cooking Matters series was scheduled to begin July 17 in Tyrone at the Wayne Baptist Village Church.This is a result of a collaboration between Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Mustard Seed Ministry.
The Ministry generously donated a new crock pot to each participant who completed the six week series.This series is family oriented; we recruited ten adults and ten youth. Youth should be 9-15 years of age. Please spread the word and help us find interested participants for these classes. For more information, contact CCE at 535-7161 or par87@cornell.edu.

Another class scheduled for the general public is Cooking in Season. As part of the Montour Falls
Library’s Healthy Living series, this hands-on class will provide the opportunity for participants to prepare local produce in healthy delicious ways. Cooking in Season takes place July 10, 7 - 9 p.m. at the Parish House. This class is free, but pre-registration is required. Please contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County @ 607-535-7161 or Roxanne Leyes @607-535-7489.